1 Samuel 4:12

1 Samuel 4:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
• New International Version (NIV)That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.

Context of 1 Samuel 4:12

10So the Philistines fought. Israel was defeated; they all ran home. The slaughter was very great; thirty thousand foot soldiers fell in battle. 11The ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were killed. On that day a Benjaminite ran from the battle lines and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn and dirt was on his head. 13When he arrived in Shiloh, Eli was sitting in his chair watching by the side of the road, for he was very worried about the ark of God. As the man entered the city to give his report, the whole city cried out. 14When Eli heard the outcry, he said, “What is this commotion?” The man quickly came and told Eli.

1 Samuel 4:12 word by word

וַיָּ֤רָץ אִישׁ־בִּנְיָמִן֙ מֵהַמַּ֣עֲרָכָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א שִׁלֹ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וּמַדָּ֣יו קְרֻעִ֔ים וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And there ranרוּץrûts · to run: runH7323
• a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
• out of the armyמַעֲרָכָהma‛ărâkâh · rankH4634
• and cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to Shilohשִׁלוֹshîylôh shilôh shîylô shilô · ShilohH7887
• the same dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• with his clothesמַדmad mêd · garmentH4055
• rentקָרַעqâra‛ · to tearH7167
• and with earthאֲדָמָה'ădâmâh · land: soilH127
• upon his headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 4:12

• 2 Samuel 1:2On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he approached David, the man threw himself to the ground.
• Joshua 7:6Joshua tore his clothes; he and the leaders of Israel lay face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord until evening and threw dirt on their heads.
• 2 Samuel 13:19Then Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went on her way, wailing as she went.
• 2 Samuel 15:32When David reached the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite met him with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.
• Nehemiah 9:1On the twenty-fourth day of this same month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting and wearing sackcloth, their heads covered with dust.
• Job 2:12But when they gazed intently from a distance but did not recognize him, they began to weep loudly. Each of them tore his robes, and they threw dust into the air over their heads.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 4:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Came to Shiloh the same day - The field of battle could not have been at any great distance, for this young man reached Shiloh the same evening after the defeat. With his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head - These were signs of sorrow and distress among all nations. The clothes rent, signified the rending, dividing, and scattering, of the people; the earth, or ashes on the head, signified their humiliation: "We are brought down to the dust of the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Runners who were swift of foot, and could go long distances were important and well-known persons (compare 2 Samuel 18:19-31). There seem to have been always professional runners to act as messengers with armies in the field (2 Kings 11:4, 2Kings 11:6,2 Kings 11:19, the King James Version “guards”). Earth upon his head - In token of bitter grief. Compare the marginal references.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 The defeat of the army was very grievous to Eli as a judge; the tidings of the death of his two sons, to whom he had been so indulgent, and who, as he had reason to fear, died impenitent, touched him as a father; yet there was a greater concern on his spirit. And when the messenger concluded his story with, "The ark of God is taken," he is struck to the heart, and died immediately. A man may die miserably, yet not die eternally; may come to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12his clothes torn and dirt on his head: This shows grief and loss (for example, Joshua 7:6; 2 Samuel 1:2; 15:32; Job 2:12).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 4:12

• Ark
• Dust
• Eli
• Judgments
• Parents
• Shiloh

In the dictionaries

• Benjamin
• Shiloh
• Benjamin, Benjaminite
• Eli
• Glory
• Mean
• Pain
• Philistines
• Tabernacle
• Tumult

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings